Patrick said he spoke with Menino a few days ago. The governor said the 71-year-old sounded weak, but was himself -- jokes and all.

"He said, 'What you got two months left?' He said, 'Have fun and don't let the knuckleheads get you down,'" Patrick said.

"I think the best thing you can do for the mayor is just call him up and wise him well," long time friend and former City Councilor Michael McCormack said. "I think he's going need some up lifting spirits around.

"He sounded tired; he sounded weak and tired. And just not the same Tom Menino we've known for 20 years," McCormack said. "He sounded like he's going through a tough period this time."

"I don't know how long he's been sick with his orthopedic problems and his cancer, but I've never heard him complain once about, 'I'm in pain.' It's always, 'Somebody's worse off than me.' And the question every time -- 'How are you feeling?' 'Great!'" McCormack said.

Sister Jeanne Gribaudo, a close friend who has known and worked for Menino for more than 20 years, visited him on Friday.

"The mayor is doing great -- visiting with family and friends. He has such an upbeat attitude, it's amazing," she said.

Gribaudo said Menino hasn't lost his sense of humor or legendary wit.

"I told him I was going bring his book in to get it signed and he told me, 'You're gonna have to pay me $2 extra for the signature.' So he's still full of fun, and vim and vigor. This is just another step in the journey and he's ready to face it one day at a time," Gribaudo said.

Among the friends who visited was former WCVB anchor Susan Wornick who said Menino's energy level has improved and he is looking forward to helping out with his church bazaar and working with charities during the holidays.

In statement, Menino said he's not giving up his battle with cancer, but he wants to spend more time with his family, grandchildren and friends.

Oncologists, such as Dr. Mary Buss at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, understand the difficult health decision. She hasn't treated Menino, but said it about living life to the fullest.

"We're starting to sort of say if patients focused really hard on quality of life, maybe they'd get more time, too. Because if you're living well, you have more desire to live, maybe you live longer," she said.

"He's fought his whole life. In his book he talks about being a kid and fighting through a lot of different things, and he became mayor. For all intents and purposes once you're elected mayor, you are always the mayor of Boston," Walsh said.

Menino was admitted to the hospital several times while in office. In 2003, he underwent surgery to remove a rare sarcoma on his back. The following year, his doctors confirmed he had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.

He spent six weeks in the hospital in 2012 for a series of ailments, including a respiratory infection. While he was in the hospital, he suffered a compression fracture in his spine and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. In May 2013, he was back in the hospital for surgery for an enlarged prostate.